Bulge controller for garment pockets



Aug. 21, 1951 c. J. HEPP 2,565,023

BULGE CONTROLLER FOR GARMENT POCKETS Filed Feb. 23, 1950 Patented Aug. 21, 1951 BULGE CONTROLLER FOR GARMENT POCKETS Charles J. Hepp, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 23, 1950, Serial No. 145,617

' 6 Claims.

This invention relates to bulge controlling means for the pockets of garments, and particularly for the side pockets of coats to which access ordinarily is afforded by horizontally disposed openings. The invention, however, is not limited in its application to coat pockets.

My invention is not designed particularly for preventing the bulging of a garment pocket in which bulky articles are carried, but it has for its object rather to provid an improved arrangement by which the bulging of the pocket may be controlled so as to be, so far as possible, un-

noticeable by the casual observer.

For accomplishing this object, I have provided a plate having a moderate degree of stiffness interposed between the lower portion of a pocket and the outside fabric of the garment, such plate being curved or otherwise specially shaped so as to support the outside garment fabric at the outer face of the pocket in the normal expected configuration at the point at which the pocket'is located, whether or not the pocket bulges inwardly. For attaining this result to the best advantage, I have provided a novel arrangement of means for attaching the plate in position with respect to the pocket, so that such plate shall be movable freely with respect to the pocket and with respect to the outside garment fabric. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this plate is suspended by tapes or the like so as to provide the desired freedom of movement of the plate.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent also from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of my invention disclosed for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an outside face view of a fragmentary portion of a coat embodying my invention, with portions of the parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'horizontal sectional view taken substantially at the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified arrangement; and

Fig. 5 is an inside face view of the parts as viewed at the line 55 in Fig. 4, but with the garment lining omitted.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, II) indicates the outside fabric of a man's coat, with a pocket I I stitched in position therein below a pocket opening I2, such opening being covered normally by the usual flap I3. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the outer face portion of the pocket comprises a, strip I4 of cloth by which said outer face portion is connected with the outside fabric it below the pocket opening I2, th inner face portion of the pocket being stitched directly to the outside fabric I0 above the pocket opening. In Fig. 2, the pocket is shown as carrying articles I5 and i6 which are merely illustrative of different types of articles likely to be found in a pocket so as to cause it to bulge. The usual garment lining I1 is shown hanging loosely at the inner face of the pocket.

For preventing the outward bulging of the pocket I I toward the right in Fig. 2, I have provided an anti-bulge plate I8 interposed between the pocket II and the outside fabric I II and of sufficient stiffness for enabling it to support the outside fabric in substantially its desired configuration regardless of any bulging of the pocket inwardly. For enabling the plate to conform to the desired shape, it is preferably bowed outwardly at its intermediate portion, being formed of plastic, metal, leather or other comparatively stiff material capable of withstanding attack by dry-cleaning chemicals. In the arrangements shown, the plate I8 is of plastic of a thickness and stiffness for causing it normally to hold its shape but having sufficient resiliency for enabling it to give when heavy pressure is applied thereon. For cutting down the weight of the plate, it is provided with openings I9 therethrough at intervals so as to give the plate foraminated form, and permitting passage of steam when pressing.

I have found that the best results are attained in the use of an anti-bulge plate when it is mounted so as to be movable edgewise with respect to both the pocket and the outside fabric of the garment. For attaining this result, I have mounted the plate I8 in position by the use of flexible tape means by which the plate is suspended so as to be movable either vertically or transversely with respect to the pocket. I prefer to employ two such flexible tapes 21] extending downwardly in convergent position with respect to each other from connections at the top corners of the pocket, such tapes engaging openings 2I in the top edge portion of the plate, as is best shown in Fig. 1.

By the use of my improvements, comprising the anti-bulge plate I8 supported by the downwardly converging tapes 2!] so as to be movable either vertically or transversely at the outer face of the pocket in a coat or other garment, and with such plate curved So as to present its convex face outwardly, a highly desirable arrangement is provided in which any bulging of the pocket is controlled so as to leave the outer contour of the garment smooth and even.

In the form of my improvements as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the arrangement is substantially the same as that above described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that an additional stiffening panel 22 is provided. In the arrangement of Figs. 4 and 5, accordingly, the same reference characters are used so far as the parts correspond with those already described. In this arrangement, the panel 22 is formed of burlap, haircloth or the like, having a greater degree of stiffness than that of the outer fabric of the garment and a lesser degree of stiffness than that of the plate l8. It will be noted that the panel 22 extends at both sides and at the bottom of the pocket substantially beyond the pocket and the plate I8. I have found that in thi arrangement, the panel 22 of intermediate stiffness cooperates effectively with the plate It for keeping the outer face of the garment fabric in the desired configuration.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modification may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited t the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I q claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an article of clothing, the combination of a pocket, a comparatively stiff plate connected with the upper edge portion of the pocket so as to be movable edgewise either vertically or transversely with respect to the pocket at the outer face of the pocket, and a panel of stiffening material secured in position on the outer face of said plate and extending a substantial distance beyond the edges of the plate for assisting in maintaining the desired configuration of said outer face portion of the pocket.

'2. An article of clothing as specified in claim 1 in which the plate is of a substantially higher degree of stiffness than the panel.

3. An article of clothing as specified in claim 1, in which the panel of stifiening material is secured in position 'by stitching along the upper edge portions of the pocket and the panel.

4. In an article of clothing, the combination of a pocket secured inside of the outer fabric of a garment, and means interposed between the pocket and the outer fabric of sufiicient stiffness for normally supporting the fabric in substantially its desired configuration opposite the pocket regardless of bulging of the pocket, said means a pocket secured inside of the outer fabric of a garment, and means interposed between the pocket and the outer fabric of sufiicient stiffness for normally supporting the fabric in substantially its desired configuration opposite the pocket regardless of bulging of the pocket, said means interposed between the pocket and the fabric *being in the form of a comparatively stiff plate movable edgewise with respect to both the fabric and the pocket, and said plate being supported in position by two flexible tapes secured at their upper ends to the upper corners of the pocket whereby the plate is free to move either vertically or transversely with respect to either the pocket or the outside fabric of the garment.

6. In an article of clothing, the combination of a pocket, and a comparatively stiff plate connected with the upper edge portion of the pocket so as to be movable edgewise either vertically or transversely with respect to the pocket at the outer face of the pocket, said plate being connected with the pocket by two flexible tapes secured at their upper ends to the upper corners of the pocket and extending downwardly in convergent position with respect to each other with the plate fixedly connected with the lower end portions of said tapes whereby the plate is free to move either vertically or transversely with respect to the pocket, said plate also being bowed outwardly at its intermediate portion and formed of plastic of sufficient thickness to give the plate the desired stiffness for normally supportin the outer face portion of the pocket in substantially its desired configuration regardless of bulging of the pocket.

CHARLES J. I-IEPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'I 

